In the last period of time we receive a lot of questions related to Google Analytics 4, also known as GA4, what does it mean, what we must or how can affect our online project. Basically speaking, Google Analytics 4 represents a new type of property, “App&Web”, where you can identify multiple metrics and information, including different reports compared with what you already are using and know in Universal Analytics properties.
Upgrade to Google Analytics 4
Basically speaking, Google Analytics 4 represents a new type of property, “App&Web”, where you can identify multiple metrics and information, including different reports compared with what you already are using and know in Universal Analytics properties.
The major advantage of using Google Analytics 4 is that this can be used for your online project, even we discuss one presentation website or one e-commerce store, even for an app, or both cases, for one website and app together.
Discover the best new features related to Google Analytics 4
- Use awesome new features as funnels or pathing
- Improved control of data and ROI for every marketer
- Smart AI-Powered Insights and Predictions
- Discover the whole benefits of using GA 4 with Google Ads
- Customer-Centric Measurements and Customer Life Cycle Reports
- Improved audience reports
- Flow visualization and custom reports
Should I upgrade to Google Analytics 4?
First of all, it is important to analyze if you really need GA 4 or, better, if these new features can helpy you and your online project or app to get better perspective regarding your visitors or potential clients. At this moment, our main recommendation is to use and run Google Analytics 4 side-by-side with your current Universal Analytics because it is safer for your and your current and old data. In this way your current data remains accessible and can help you to compare your future results with the old ones.
If we discuss about one basic website, the old information and data are important but maybe not for the last years compared with huge e-commerce stores such as Bazaar Gadgets where you need to track multiple actions and those reports can decide your future marketing strategy and decisions.
Is not just our opinion but, from all our experience, from other expert’s opinion, Google Analytics 3 is the most important and representative analytics platform that can be used without any restriction and will be used for quite some time.
We receive emails, many phone calls related to this new information but, all the time, we discuss with those persons that GA4 must be seen like a normal step for every business owner or business manager. In the same time, you can find a lot of new videos related to this topic so, please feel free to learn more and even to send your comments to our team or to other trusted online sources.
Another important mention is that you can upgrade to Google Analytics 4 in just few steps:
- Create a fresh new property, it will automatically be GA4
- Use very easy the Upgrade Wizard, every will be done in few moments.
Comparison of GA4 vs Universal Analytics
- In GA 4 we will not see anymore pageviews information, timing hits or transaction information.
- GA 4 is event-based so, from this point of view, any pageview will be seen as an event.
- You can still create Universal Analytics properties so, don’t worry about this option.
- Add all your apps or online projects to the same property.
- Improved tracking system.
- Free integration with BigQuery – a great news compared with GA3 where this option was available only for premium users.
- In Google Analytics 4 views are no longer present so, this can be something important for a lot of marketers.
- Not in the end, another major info is related to Google Search Console, in GA4 we don’t have any more this integration.
Like all the time, for additional information or questions related to this topic, if you want to know how to properly install Google analytics 4, please send us your messages and we will get in touch with you asap.